Dr. Habeebu Muhammad, Chief Clinical Director of the NSIA-LUTH Cancer Centre, has linked the rising incidence of breast cancer to the increasing trend of late marriages and a decline in breastfeeding practices.

Speaking on World Cancer Day 2025, Dr. Muhammad warned that beyond these factors, lifestyle choices such as junk food consumption, sedentary living, and exposure to environmental pollutants are also contributing to the growing prevalence of breast cancer, particularly among adolescents and young women.

?Women today are getting married later than before, largely due to educational pursuits and financial constraints,? Dr. Muhammad explained. ?This delay affects the age at which they have their first child. Studi?s have shown that women who have their first child after 25 face a higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to those who give birth at a younger age.?

The oncologist further lamented the decline in breastfeeding culture, highlighting its protective role against breast cancer.

?In the past, women breastfed for up to two years, but modern career demands and maternity leave limitations have reduced this practice,? he noted. ?Breastfeeding helps regulate hormone levels and offers a protective shield against breast cancer, but with fewer women breastfeeding for extended periods, we are seeing an increased risk.?

Dr. Muhammad also pointed to early puberty as a growing risk factor. ?Girls today are reaching puberty much earlier than before, which prolongs their exposure to estrogen?a hormone linked to breast cancer.

Additionally, the number of pregnancies brought to term has declined. Unlike in the past when women had six to ten children, many now have only two or three. The more pregnancies a woman carries to term, the more protection her breasts receive from the effects of estrogen.?

The expert also drew attention to lifestyle changes contributing to breast cancer risks.

?We are eating more processed, fatty foods, and living increasingly sedentary lives. Unlike before, when women engaged in farming, hawking, and household chores that kept them active, today?s lifestyle revolves around office work and minimal movement,? he stated.

Environmental pollution, he added, is another underappreciated culprit. ?Exposure to waste products, chemical pollutants from generators, motor exhaust fumes, and factory emissions are increasing the risk of breast cancer. Urbanization has heightened women?s exposure to these carcinogens.?

Despite the rising number of breast cancer cases, Dr. Muhammad observed that more women are now seeking medical attention, dispelling past myths that associated the disease with spiritual attacks.

?I must say that awareness is improving. More women are coming forward for treatment instead of attributing breast cancer to supernatural causes,? he said. ?We are diagnosing more cases, not just because the disease is rising, but also due to improved screening technologies and better public awareness.?

Dr. Muhammad urged young women to adopt healthier lifestyles to mitigate their risk.

?Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and avoid excessive consumption of junk food,? he advised. ?Breast cancer is not entirely preventable, but by making informed choices, women can significantly reduce their risk.?

A study published in The Lancet in November 2024, titled The Current and Future Global Burden of Cancer Among Adolescents and Young Adults, revealed alarming statistics. In 2022 alone, an estimated 1.3 million cancer cases and 377,621 cancer-related deaths occurred among young people.

The study further noted that while cancer incidence rates were highest in high-income countries, mortality rates were disproportionately higher in low-income nations due to limited access to healthcare.

Breast and cervical cancers were the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in over 90 countries.

Projections indicate that the global burden of adolescent and young adult cancer will rise by approximately 12% by 2050. The impact will be most severe in low-income countries, where cases and deaths are expected to double.

As the 2025 World Cancer Day theme ?United by Unique? underscores the importance of patient-centered care, experts stress the need for improved awareness, early detection, and proactive lifestyle adjustments to combat the growing breast cancer crisis. (The Nation)

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